HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 Review: A Versatile Laptop For Everyday Use
HP launched its upgraded lineup of Pavilion laptops last month with Intel 13th Gen processors: Pavilion 14, Pavilion 14 Plus, and Pavilion x360. In this review, we will be specifically taking a closer look at the HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 laptop, which is a versatile and powerful device. This device, with its sleek design and impressive specifications, offers a seamless blend of performance and portability with few compromises. The 360-degree hinge allows for multiple modes of use, making it an appealing choice for both work and entertainment.
I’ve been testing it for the past few weeks, and in the following sections, we will dive into the key features, performance, and user experience of this to help you make an informed decision on whether it’s the right fit for your needs.
HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 (2023) Review
Summary
HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 laptop offers a sleek design, versatile performance, and reliable features. It delivers a smooth user experience with its robust hinge, comfortable keyboard, and immersive display. With a good port selection, high-quality webcam, and few compromises, it is an appealing choice for users in need of a versatile laptop.
Design and build quality
When it comes to looks, the HP Pavilion x360 is a visually appealing laptop, featuring a sleek and modern design with a brushed metal finish that gives it a premium look and feel. The unit I’m reviewing came in pale Rose Gold, which I like better as compared to the other silver color option. The laptop is built using high-quality materials that make the laptop sturdy and devoid of any noticeable flex. The side bezels on display are slim, but the top and bottom ones surely are noticeably thicker.
In recent years, we’ve witnessed a growing trend toward sustainable materials in the manufacturing of smartphones and laptops. HP has also shown its commitment to reducing waste by using ocean-bound plastics and recycled aluminum.
For any 2-in-1 laptop that claims seamless transition between different modes of operation, the hinge is something of utmost importance, and HP knows this. Compared to the previous generation, the 13th Gen-powered x360’s hinge is more robust and ensures you can transition between different modes (tablet, tent, laptop, and stand) pretty seamlessly. This hinge also ensures a lifted design in laptop mode that ensures better airflow and slightly more comfortable typing.
Moving on to the overall keyboard experience, the island-style, backlit keyboard is nice to type at, thanks to decent travel, something that’s becoming a rare commodity these days. The overall keyboard-to-trackpad real estate ratio is well-balanced that gives ample room for palm rest and finger movement.
When it comes to ports and connectivity, the HP Pavilion x360 does not disappoint. It offers a good selection of ports, including one USB Type-C, two USB Type-A, a full-size HDM port, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. Additionally, the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 for seamless wireless connectivity.
Display and touchscreen
Display specifications:
- 35.6 cm (14-inch) diagonal
- FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution
- Multitouch-enabled
- IPS panel
- Edge-to-edge glass
- 250 nits brightness
- 45% NTSC Gamut coverage
The HP Pavilion x360 boasts a high-quality 16:9 display and responsive touchscreen, which is the main highlight of this overall package. With a 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) IPS display, the viewing experience is pleasant. The display is bright and vibrant, with good color reproduction and contrast, making it ideal for browsing, streaming, and regular office tasks. However, the 250 nits brightness and 45% NTSC gamut coverage make it less than ideal for professional-level video or photo editing, and you should consider a display with a higher gamut coverage for better color accuracy and satisfactory results.
The laptop also comes bundled with a stylus with works fine for basic drawings and note-taking tasks. Stylus recharges over Type-C and attaches magnetically to the side of the display, which is a nice detail.
During my testing, I primarily interacted with the screen using my fingers alone, as it felt more natural and intuitive to me. While I did test the stylus briefly, I found that I did not have a personal use for it in my day-to-day activities. However, you may find the stylus to be a valuable tool for tasks such as drawing or note-taking, and it is a nice inclusion for those who do prefer to use it.
Webcam
Pavilion 360x laptop’s built-in webcam is a standout feature, boasting the HP True Vision 5MP camera. The camera quality is impressive for a built-in laptop webcam, offering sharp and clear images that proved to be great for my online meetings. The additional camera shutter is a thoughtful addition, providing users with a sense of privacy when the camera is not in use.
A welcome feature of the webcam is temporal noise reduction, which significantly improves video quality in low-light conditions or fast-moving scenarios by reducing pixelation and blurring. The integrated dual-array digital microphones are also worth noting; they provide clear audio capture, minimizing background noise effectively. This combination of features makes the webcam on the HP Pavilion 360x more than just a basic feature and worth brownie points.
Performance
Powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U processor, HP Pavilion 360x proved to be a competent machine for my daily workload that involved regular video calls and Slack huddles, Netflix streaming, endless hours of web browsing and some basic gaming for testing purposes. Since this particular chip features 10 cores, with 8 being efficiency cores, you get a balanced output when it comes to performance and power efficiency.
Specifically about the games, I was able to play games like Valorant and some less demanding AAA titles at decent framerates. When operating on regular to medium workloads, the laptop also remained quiet. The version I tested came with 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD and 16GB DDR4 RAM; the lack of DDR5 RAM looks surely like a cost-cutting strategy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 laptop impresses with its sleek design, versatile features, and reliable performance. The laptop’s build quality is sturdy, and the robust hinge allows for seamless transitions between modes. The comfortable keyboard and well-balanced port selection enhance the overall user experience.
The 14-inch Full HD IPS display provides vibrant colors and good contrast, although it may not be ideal for professional-level editing. The built-in webcam delivers sharp images and includes a camera shutter for privacy. Powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core processor, the laptop offers reliable performance for daily tasks and basic gaming. With a 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD and 16GB DDR4 RAM, it provides ample storage and smooth multitasking capabilities. Overall, the HP Pavilion x360 is a versatile and powerful device that offers a seamless user experience for work and entertainment.
